YouTube Shorts Agent
Agent-first YouTube Shorts uploader for the YouTube Data API.
Dry-run safe, OAuth readiness checks, MCP-ready for Codex / Claude / Cursor / Hermes.
> ⭐ **If this agent-first tool helps your workflow, please star the repo.** Stars make this tooling easier for other builders to discover and help Delx keep shipping open infrastructure.
> 🧱 Part of the [Delx agent stack](https://github.com/davidmosiah) — 15 open-source MCP servers across **body, reach and coordination**.
---
Agent-first YouTube Shorts uploader for the YouTube Data API. It is designed for Codex, Claude, Cursor, Hermes, OpenClaw and any MCP client that needs a predictable upload workflow with dry-run safety, OAuth readiness checks and structured output.
Use it when an agent needs to prepare, validate or upload Shorts through the official API without touching YouTube Studio UI.
## What Agents Get
- `youtube_agent_manifest` for install/runtime guidance
- `youtube_connection_status` before upload attempts
- `youtube_privacy_audit` for local token and media boundaries
- `youtube_oauth_authorize_url` with local PKCE session storage
- `youtube_upload_short` with `containsSyntheticMedia` support
- `youtube_list_recent_videos` for lightweight post-upload checks
## Install
```bash
npm install -g youtube-shorts-agent
```
Or run directly:
```bash
npm exec --yes --package=youtube-shorts-agent -- youtube-shorts-agent doctor
```
## CLI
```bash
youtube-shorts-agent manifest --client codex
youtube-shorts-agent doctor
youtube-shorts-agent privacy-audit
youtube-shorts-agent auth-url --redirect-uri http://localhost:8787/callback
youtube-shorts-agent upload-short --video ./short.mp4 --title "Launch title" --caption-file copy.txt
youtube-shorts-agent list-recent --max-results 10
```
Dry-run is enabled by default. Set `YOUTUBE_DRY_RUN=false` only when `doctor` reports a complete OAuth setup and you intend to call the live API.
## First Upload (dry-run walkthrough)
This is the full first-run path. Every step here is **dry-run safe** — no credentials are required and nothing is sent to YouTube. The output below is captured verbatim from a real run.
**1. Check readiness.** With no OAuth configured, `doctor` confirms you are in dry-run mode:
```bash
youtube-shorts-agent doctor
```
```json
{
"ok": true,
"dry_run": true,
"configured": {
"client_credentials": "missing",
"access_token": "missing",
"refresh_token": "missing"
},
"missing_count": 3,
"ready_for_live_upload": false,
"next_steps": [
"Current mode is dry-run. Validate metadata and agent flow before live uploads."
]
}
```
**2. Prepare a Short and its caption.**
```bash
printf 'Launching the agent-first Shorts uploader.\n#shorts #ai #agents' > copy.txt
# short.mp4 is your vertical 9:16 clip
```
**3. Run the upload in dry-run.** No network call is made; the tool returns the exact job and result it would publish, so an agent can validate metadata before going live:
```bash
youtube-shorts-agent upload-short \
--video ./short.mp4 \
--title "Agent-first Shorts upload" \
--caption-file copy.txt \
--tags ai,agents \
--duration 24
```
```json
{
"ok": true,
"dry_run": true,
"job": {
"id": "youtube_1780082215631",
"platform": "youtube",
"status": "queued",
"createdAt": "2026-05-29T19:16:55.631Z",
"caption": "Launching the agent-first Shorts uploader.\n#shorts #ai #agents",
"targetUrl": "",
"mediaPaths": ["./short.mp4"],
"metadata": {
"title": "Agent-first Shorts upload",
"youtube_title": "Agent-first Shorts upload",
"youtube_tags": ["ai", "agents"],
"youtube_contains_synthetic_media": true,
"video_duration_sec": 24,
"video_aspect_ratio": "9:16"
}
},
"result": {
"provider": "youtube_official",
"platformPostId": "dryrun_1780082215631",
"releaseUrl": "https://www.youtube.com",
"raw": { "dryRun": true, "jobId": "youtube_1780082215631" }
}
}
```
`platformPostId` is prefixed with `dryrun_` and `releaseUrl` is the YouTube root — both signal that nothing was uploaded. The `id`, `createdAt` and `dryrun_*` values vary per run.
**4. Confirm the channel listing path** (returns an empty list in dry-run):
```bash
youtube-shorts-agent list-recent --max-results 5
```
```json
{ "items": [] }
```
**Going live.** Configure OAuth (`youtube-shorts-agent auth-url --redirect-uri http://localhost:8787/callback`, then exchange the callback code for tokens), set `YOUTUBE_CLIENT_ID` / `YOUTUBE_CLIENT_SECRET` / `YOUTUBE_ACCESS_TOKEN` / `YOUTUBE_REFRESH_TOKEN` in `.env`, re-run `doctor` until `ready_for_live_upload` is `true`, then set `YOUTUBE_DRY_RUN=false` and re-run the same `upload-short` command.
## MCP
```bash
youtube-shorts-mcp
```
## HTTP (v2 stateless)
Default is **stdio**. Optional Streamable HTTP — no session id, JSON responses, loopback only:
```bash
npx -y -p youtube-shorts-agent youtube-shorts-mcp --http
# GET http://127.0.0.1:3032/health
# POST http://127.0.0.1:3032/mcp (sessionless)
```
Env: `YOUTUBE_MCP_HOST`, `YOUTUBE_MCP_PORT`, `YOUTUBE_MCP_TRANSPORT=http`.
Hermes-style config:
```yaml
mcp_servers:
youtube_shorts:
command: npx
args: ["-y", "youtube-shorts-agent"]
sampling:
enabled: false
```
Recommended first calls:
1. `youtube_connection_status`
2. `youtube_privacy_audit`
3. `youtube_upload_short`
## Agent Surfaces
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `youtube_agent_manifest` | Install/runtime guidance for Codex, Claude, Cursor, Hermes and OpenClaw |
| `youtube_connection_status` | OAuth and dry-run readiness without token values |
| `youtube_privacy_audit` | Upload scope, synthetic media and local file boundaries |
| `youtube_oauth_authorize_url` | PKCE authorization URL with local session storage |
| `youtube_upload_short` | Dry-run or live Shorts upload |
| `youtube_list_recent_videos` | Lightweight channel verification |
## Copy-Paste Agent Prompt
```text
Use youtube-shorts-agent. First call youtube_connection_status and youtube_privacy_audit.
If uploading AI-generated media, keep containsSyntheticMedia=true. Never print token values.
```
## Configuration
Copy `.env.example` to `.env`. Keep `.env` and `.agent-data/` out of Git.
The upload tool sets `containsSyntheticMedia=true` by default for AI-generated or AI-edited videos. Override only when that is not true for the asset.
## Safety Model
- OAuth tokens are never returned by CLI or MCP tools.
- PKCE verifier is stored locally in `.agent-data/`.
- Live upload requires `YOUTUBE_DRY_RUN=false`.
- The package uses the official YouTube Data API and does not automate Studio UI.
## Development
```bash
npm install
npm test
npm run check
```
---
## 📧 Contact & Support
- 📨 **support@delx.ai** — general questions, integration help, partnerships
- 🐛 **Bug reports / feature requests** — [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/davidmosiah/youtube-shorts-agent/issues)
- 🐦 **Updates** — [@delx369](https://x.com/delx369) on X
- 🌐 **Site** — [wellness.delx.ai](https://wellness.delx.ai)
